The application of simulation in medical education - our experiences "from improvisation to simulation"

While the use of simulation in medical education has a long history, it has seen its greatest strides in the past 15-odd years. It may be defined as imitation, artificial while at the same time faithful, of various clinical situations through well-crafted medical "scenarios" where, instead of actual people, we use standardized patients: plant, animal, or synthetic models, computerized interactive manikins - simulators, with audiovisuals, as well as medical equipment used in everyday clinical practice. The fundamental goal of using simulation in medical education is an optimal balance between professional education on the one hand and complete safety and protection of patients on the other. Depending on the available finances and the level of advancement of the healthcare and education systems, medical simulation can take various forms - from simple improvisation to the creation of a high-fidelity simulation in centers for medical simulation. Our example shows that, even with modest financial means, enthusiasm, creativity, and good ideas make it possible to establish a center for medical simulation. A separate section of the paper is devoted to the staging of a simulation scenario based on the authors' experiences.